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Pure Appl. Geophys. 173 (2016), 14031421 2015 Springer Basel
DOI 10.1007/s00024-015-1166-y Pure and Applied Geophysics
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Web End = On Frontal Zone Analysis in the Tropical Region of the Northeast Brazil
NATALIA FEDOROVA,1 VLADIMIR LEVIT,1 and CEZAR DUARTE DA CRUZ1
AbstractA frontal structure in the tropical region is different than in the extratropical region and traditional methods of frontal identication are not accurate. The use of a horizontal distribution of the equivalent potential temperature and its advection is the new aspect in frontal identication and will support forecasters in their daily operational practice. Six fronts over 3 years were identied by the method used in operational practice. Twenty fronts were registered by cloud bands together with the equivalent potential temperature and its advection maps. A cold front separated from the cyclones center and affected weather on the Northeast Brazil.
Key words: Frontal zone, tropical region, northeast Brazil.
1. Introduction
Frontal zones (FZs) are very important synoptic-scale systems over South America. Cold, warm, occlusion and stationary fronts were observed more frequently to the south of 30S (TALJAARD 1972;
SATYAMURTI and MATTOS 1989; CAVALCANTI and KOUSKY 2009; REBOITA et al. 2010). The inuence of the warm front on the weather in southern Brazil was discussed in CARVALHO and FEDOROVA (2011).
Frontal zones are observed more frequently in the southern latitudinal belt between 35 and 40S (about nine per month) and less frequently in the northern belt, north of 20S (about two per month) (SATYA
MURTI et al. 1998). Baroclinic waves of the extra tropical latitudes are modied after passing over the Andes. Troughs that pass through the Andes combine with troughs at the east side of the Andes, being deected to the north while crossing the mountain
range and, as a consequence, the frontal zones move in the northeast direction (SATYAMURTI et al. 1998; SELUCHI et al. 1998; SELUCHI and MARENGO 2000). The displacement of midlatitude air toward tropical latitudes on the eastern side is linked to cold fronts whose trajectory and movement are also favored by the presence of...